Quality function deployment (QFD) is an important tool for quality and
manufacturing professionals. The first three chapters are basic and present
QFD concepts and approaches. However, in chapter three, the author starts
providing mathematical techniques using calculus, which may be hard for
some readers to understand.

I had difficulty deciding who would use this book other than professors
and advanced students. The final chapter, "Application of a Quality Function
Deployment to Industrial Training Courses," is too basic and would be
better titled "Case Study" or "Real-World Application."

I expected more from this book based on its title, Advanced Quality
Function Deployment, but the material presented is adequate if you
scan it and then look for a user-friendly book of QFD tools and techniques.

Design for Six Sigma: Launching New Products and Services Without
Failure provides guidance in the successful introduction of new products
and services, describing aspects of business strategy, design, project
management and methodology to attain a customer focused Six Sigma approach.
The use of Six Sigma as a philosophy, metric and methodology is covered.
The design process is analyzed from an ideal perspective, and common failures
of the design process are explored.

A design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology deals with customer focus
and satisfaction. The primary tool used by the author is quality function
deployment. Other quality tools and skills required in DFSS include failure
mode effects analysis, simulation and modeling, team building, project
management, and innovation and creativity skills.

The chapters are written in a conversational style but tend to be filled
with too many personal opinions. Figures are used to present concepts
visually, and major points are bulleted in the text.

This book will be useful to any student or practitioner of Six Sigma.
Designers, development managers and engineers will find the book a necessary
addition to their tool chests.

ISO 9001:2000 Revision Highlights: A Comparative Guide is designed
to be a clause-by-clause comparison of ISO 9000:1994 to ISO 9000:2000.
Minor changes in the standards and editorial comments are purposely left
out so only the essential changes are included.

While there isn't enough information in the guide to make it the sole
document used for developing or upgrading to an ISO 9000:2000 quality
system, it still is useful as a quick reference. The author also provides
short descriptions of what was changed, revised or deleted, and explains
how the clauses are referenced to other clauses. Having both versions
of the standard together makes this pocket-sized guide a handy tool for
quality professionals.

I would recommend this guide for organizations in the process of transitioning
to the 2000 version of the standard. Remember, it's not a substitute for
the actual ISO 9000 standards. This guide would also be useful for people
not directly involved with the ISO 9000 transition who want to have a
reference available to remind them of the requirements.

TL 9000 Release 3.0: A Guide to Measuring Excellence in Telecommunications,
second edition, is organized in a logical manner. It starts with an informative
introduction that provides insight into the development of the TL 9000
quality system requirements and metrics. The next two chapters cover the
common, hardware, software and service specific requirements (adders)
of the standard. Each section within these chapters includes the requirements,
the rationale behind them and tips for implementing these adders.

The chapter on the TL 9000 measurements provides various examples of
the required measurement data using appropriate data tables and graphs.

Chapter six, "TL 9000 Case Studies: An Innovative Way of Gathering Feedback
Information," lived up to my expectations. However, including more updated
information from an organization that had recently achieved TL 9000 certification
would have exceeded my expectations.

This reference book can be used by organizations pursuing certification
to TL 9000, registrar organizations that conduct certification audits
and organizations already certified to the standard. This is one book
that will not be covered by dust sitting on someone's shelf.